We love Mason jars for organizing the pantry, storing salad, and shaking up whipped cream, but sometimes the most useful part isn't actually the jar at all — it's the lid. Here are five times when the metal seal and ringed lid are way more useful than the jar.

1. Use them in place of a muffin tin.

For those times you've filled your muffin tin and still have batter leftover, want to make a single cupcake, or simply don't have a muffin tin, Mason jar bands come to the rescue. The metal bands that screw the lids onto canning jars are heatproof and the perfect size to hold cupcake liners in place to fill with batter and bake.

2. Create a perfectly round egg mold.

Want to make thick, perfectly round eggs for your breakfast sandwiches? No need to buy an egg mold — all you need is a Mason jar band. Coat the band with cooking spray and place it in a heated pan. Next, crack the egg directly into the center of the band. Let it cook for a couple minutes until the egg sets, then remove the band, flip, and cook another minute or two.

3. Make mini cheesecakes.

When used together, the metal seal and jar band can work in a similar fashion as a springform pan. Mini cheesecakes are easy to whip together and bake in a fraction of the time when you use this method.

5. Make DIY votive candles.

I love DIY candles because even if you're not a crafty person (that's me), this is one project you can still easily tackle. Extra-wide votives made with the metal seal and Mason jar band make an extra-special touch on the dinner table and around the kitchen.